Randor's Song of the Week: 09.18.11

"Mr. Policeman" by Brad Paisley from the album 5th Gear. 2007.
    Much like an Arctic bear, country music is a polarizing force. Usual relationship levels tend to fall under either restraining order hatred or monogamous genre love. Simply put, most people either really like it or really despise it. I find myself in between, though. People often complain about the twangy style, but I find that most enjoyable about the music. The guitar carries a unique timbre I appreciate, and Brad Paisley tends to run that sound up and down the fretted neck very successfully in his solos. "Mr. Policeman" just chases that example at breakneck pace. Nah, my qualms with country music lay not in the style but the lyrics. Especially in more recent years it seems the artists either must repeat a phrase until they forget what it means or they have a quota to fill regarding the words 'tractor' or 'country' itself, among many others. I mean, Rodney Atkins seems to just shot-put a random 'tractor' into the backroads for no good reason... other than saying 'tractor' (the line goes "if I'm gonna hit a traffic jam, well, there better be a tractor, man"). Ehhh, while I can't cash in my excitement check over the simple lyrics these songs tend to have, it does define the genre. The most complex wordplay you'll find rested among, say, "Shiftwork" lyrics. I suppose that's another pillar to support this week's podium for "Mr. Policeman." A unique topic partnered with the charm of good ole homegrown music.

Randor's Song of the Week: 09.11.11

"Richman" by 3OH3! from the album Want. 2009.
    There's a double standard here. "Randor!" you indignantly huff, "With lyrics like 'Ima do it like I always have: whiskey in a 40 bag, pissing in the alleyway out back of where the party's at,' how is this song any better than that Ke$ha ...hit you so vehemently and consistently despise?" Or maybe you'll take it a 6-inch heel's step further with "Oh, so a male living a disrespectful drunkard's life can be glorified but when a woman throws up her hands, a party anthem, and most her stomach contents, a judgmental inundation of mockery and disgust must swell upon her quicker than diluted beer from an unguarded keg to the distended bellies of a Spring Break U frat party?!?" ::gasp, breathe:: Well, not to discredit the imaginary outrage of our imaginary fanbase, nor the 'academic' achievement of the fictional Spring Break University, I'll declare right out that the party life of booze and glitz should not receive idolization nor respect regardless of the indulging gender. Clearly by picking this tune, I think there's some wealth in "Richman," ya-buh-dibba-dibba-dum. I'm going to explore the slight difference between 3OH3!'s featured song and Ke-dollarsign-ha's number one to determine exactly why. If I can jigsaw my thoughts to an articulate coherence, this could get interesting.

Imma Be Up Top

    Finally, Ke$ha's monster has slipped from the top spot of the Billboard charts. It held the throne for a good two months and may very well force it's way up for a few more on-and-off weeks. But the continuous reign of the terrible tune has ended, and can only fall further down the slopes, hopefully (though unlikely) into obscurity.